. The Governor remains at his niece’s side, tongue slipping out to wet his lips while he put the finishing touches on his stitching. Tenderly, he probes the mottled flesh around the slash in her side before he pushes the needle through again, loops the thread around, and finally knots it off. Brian smiles, and it’s a warm, genuine one. He peels a themed band-aid out of a tin at his side, and presses the pink square adorned with Hello Kitty and other varied Sanrio characters over the wound. And then he kisses two of his fingers and places them over the bandage.
. “Oh, honey,” He drawls, leaning to look at her in the mirror. Brian straightens up next to her, a hand settling between her shoulders. His dark eyes meet hers in the reflecting glass, and he sighs, leaning to rest his chin on Penny’s shoulder. “A’course I care. You mean everythin’ to me. I can’t have my lil’ girl fallin’ apart all th’ time.”
. Brian pauses, and then he averts his eyes from the mirror when the whispers start again. His smile softens just slightly, more sad than before, and head bows until he’s resting his pronounced brow against her back. A muttered, “That sack’a shit failed you. It’s your uncle’s fault we gotta do this. If it weren’t for him, you’d still be… the way you were, y’know. But… I’m just glad you’re… you’re still here. With me.”
. He allows his arms to open to her, the high-voltage, insane smile returning suddenly. “C’mon an’ give your ol’ man a hug.”
𝐒𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐄𝐄𝐃𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐒𝐄𝐄 𝐈𝐓. The sound of crinkling paper only ever meant one thing, and Penny cursed every event that lead up to the now-fixed-wound being on her back and away from where eyes could easily catch a glimpse of whatever character had been pulled from the variety pack. Knowing she couldn’t see didn’t stop her from trying, although it only took one good attempt at bending backwards for interest to be lost and attention to drift elsewhere, the shape of a bird passing by the window her new obsession for a solid five seconds.
Arms tight, an audible grunt could be heard as waif-like body delivered the requested hug. From the outside Penny may not have looked like the warmest of individuals, and inside the story wasn’t much different - but there was a part of her that knew enough to be appreciative of any and all physical affection she received; After all, it wasn’t often that people were foolish comfortable enough to put faith in her self control.
❝ Can we find a bookstore today? ❞ Silent for just long enough to make her sudden request feel as though it came out of nowhere, as the question was asked Penny settled into her place on her Uncle Father’s lap, hazy blue gaze just a second away from begging.